Amazon released the second season of Alpha House on October 24 and this time around fans, will see even more of the hijinks that only heterosexual, male Republican officials can offer, as well as Brooke Bloom in pencil skirts. (I’m a fan of both.) One would assume that the title refers to the conservative senators that share a house-but in watching the series, it is quickly obviated that the women are actually in charge. The senators’ wives and chiefs of staff and the female official from across the aisle are the real “alphas” of this house.
Alpha House follows the mishaps and “shaking my head” moments of four Republican senators who share a house together in D.C. Season 2 brings such tragically funny moments as Senator Laffer going into a highly entertaining gay panic, Mrs. Laffer-played by the hilarious Amy Sedaris-demonstrating her lack of knowledge on basic text talk, and Senator Guzman-a non-Spanish speaking Latino official-stumbling over basic Spanish in a sad attempt for street cred. Some of my favorite moments of this season include Senator Laffer’s understated internal struggle with his affection for Julie (Brooke Bloom), his lesbian employee, and his Mormon faith. It’s very “Be careful who you hate, it might be someone you love.” As much as we loathe LGBT ignorance wrapped in religious excuses, this particular situation was quite relatable and realistic. We all have a Senator Laffer in our lives and, although we lose patience with their cluelessness, we see and appreciate the baby steps they take toward an understanding of who we are as queer people.
Senator and Mrs. Laffer embody this quite well. Katherine (Natalie Gold) and Julie heat things up GOP style with some good old fashioned shoulder touching. And Julie’s poised and unapologetic delivery of the news of an upcoming extra special delivery is brief, but significant. But don’t expect to get your lesbian love fix in the initial episodes of this series. Although both Katherine and Julie hold significant roles in the show as the backbone of their respective employers, their interactions with one another are few and far between until later in the season. The show could’ve benefited from a bit more of the gay agenda earlier on, but if you’re watching Alpha House, you’ll need to be satisfied with breadcrumbs in the way of visibility for lesbian relationships until the latter part of the season. Hint: There will be bells and not the “liberty” variety.
Wanda Sykes, once again, more than holds her own as Senator Rosalyn DuPeche. Her humor is understated, so be sure to hit pause if you need a Pinot refill. If you don’t pay close attention, you’ll miss her subtle clever witticisms that accidentally on purpose put the men of the GOP in their places. She makes Senator Bettencourt look like a complete ass and almost immediately soothes his “I left my wife in another state and I can’t believe she wants a divorce” wounds, in a manner which only Sykes can accomplish. There are few people-or television characters-who can pull off that welcomed kind of tough love the way both Wanda Sykes and her character Senator DuPeche can. Our beloved queer female cast member reminds us that girls really do run the world—or at least a fictionalized version of Pennsylvania Avenue, even without the assistance of Cynthia Nixon this season.
If lots of lady-centered LGBT action is a prerequisite for your television viewing, re-watch Transparent. But, if having a little fun at the expense of Republicans can hold you over on Alpha House, there might just be a pot of lesbian gold at the end of that Amazon Prime rainbow—and Rachel Maddow may or may not be waiting in all of her unassumingly sexy glory.
